Indiana voter ID law ruled constitutional

WASHINGTON (CNN) - The Supreme Court on Monday backed Indiana's law requiring voters to show photo identification, despite concerns thousands of elderly, poor, and minority voters could be locked out of their right to cast ballots.

The 6-3 vote allows Indiana to require the identification when it holds its statewide primary next month. It also will give most state legislatures time to revise their voter laws for the November elections, if they choose to do so.

At issue was whether state laws designed to stem voter fraud end up disenfranchising large groups of Americans who might lack proper documents to prove they are eligible to vote.

The justices wrestled with a balancing test of sorts to ensure both state and individual voter interests were addressed, in what has become a highly partisan legal and political fight.

–From Bill Mears, CNN Supreme Court Producer